Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Giuliani Does The Godfather
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 9, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last week, Rudy Giuliani ruffled some Italian-American feathers when he did an impersonation of Don Corleone during a California campaign stop. Newsday reports that the former Mayor "recycled" an "old New York gag" by saying, "Thank youse all very much for invitin' me here tuh-day, to this meeting of the families from different parts'a California."
The reaction from Italian-Americans is mixed: The president of the Italian American Museum and Coalition of Italian American Associations, Joseph Scelsa, believes Giuliani has done a lot to "advance the image of Italian Americans" while the Order Sons of Italy in America's Dona De Sanctis said, "We would hope that Mr. Giuliani would try to find humor in other aspects of his candidacy rather than his Italian heritage that way." Well, that's too easy - we couldn't find a clip of his impression, so here's this oldie but goodie of Giuliani in drag.
The Giuliani campaign response was, "Mayor Giuliani is proud of his Italian heritage and has a record celebrating the country's culture and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to New York City and the United States." And this comment to the Advance from one-time Staten Island congressional candidate Eugene Prisco was interesting: "One of the grand contradictions and ironies is that there are large segments of the population who still wouldn't vote for Rudy Giuliani just because he's an Italian, and for him to do those impersonations doesn't help the situation."
Newsday says that Giuliani is an "unabashed" Godfather fan. Well, he's like millions of other people - it's just interesting given that his friend Bernard Kerik let a mob-connected firm do renovation work on his home. What do you think of Giuliani doing Corleone?
Tagged
america
American Museum
Bernard Kerik
california
city
culture
giuliani
headlines
humor
italian
italian american
Italian Americans
italy
mayor
mayor giuliani
museum
new york
new york city
News: NYC
people
rudy giuliani
staten island
The Giuliani
united states
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .